Internet Providers in Seattle, Washington
- Provider
- Fastest Internet
- Lowest Price
- Availability
Home Providers in 98118:
Best Internet Providers in Seattle, WA
Our top recommendation for broadband internet service in Seattle is Quantum Fiber. Quantum Fiber offers speeds that can reach 940 Mbps — essentially gigabit speeds; in addition, it delivers those speeds on a fiber-optic network, which is the best type of internet connection due to symmetrical speeds, high stability, and no data caps. According to our customer review data, Quantum Fiber also gets relatively good marks from its Seattle customers who report being happier with their service than Xfinity customers.
However, Xfinity is a solid second choice behind Quantum Fiber — and many customers find that it’s their best option. Quantum Fiber only covers about half of the city, while Xfinity has availability in 97.5% of Seattle. Cable is a good fallback choice, and Xfinity has been improving its reputation for customer service in recent years. Xfinity offers internet-only plans that start at $30 per month and reach speeds up to 1 Gbps. You can also opt for bundles that include Xfinity cable TV and phone service starting at $55 per month.
Astound Broadband Powered by Wave is another option in Seattle that offers both cable and fiber internet, but with limited availability across the city. The fastest plans by Astound Broadband Powered by Wave offer speeds up to 1.5 Gbps. Its internet services cover some neighborhoods other providers don’t, so it may be worth a look if Quantum Fiber and Xfinity aren’t available in your neighborhood.
Seattle is also served by CenturyLink, which offers DSL internet in the city. We generally don’t recommend DSL connections over better alternatives like cable and fiber internet; however, CenturyLink’s plans can be a decent budget option for customers who don’t need overwhelmingly fast internet. CenturyLink’s plans start at $55 per month.
You can typically find the best deals on internet in Seattle by watching out for promotions from major providers. Providers like Quantum Fiber and Xfinity often offer deals, especially for new customers. Specifically, Xfinity is currently offering an interesting bundle that includes a 300 Mbps internet plan and an unlimited mobile line for $35/mo for one year. Deals are subject to frequent changes, so be sure to check back monthly for updated promotions.
Fastest Internet Providers in Seattle, WA
For the fastest broadband connection in town, turn to ; it offers speeds that can reach up to 8 Gbps on its fastest plans.
Fiber-optic networks have symmetrical speeds, meaning that their top advertised download speeds are also their top advertised upload speeds. That’s very different from how cable, DSL, and other connection types work by always prioritizing download traffic. Generally, their maximum upload speeds are much slower than their top advertised download speeds. That’s why Quantum Fiber is able to offer gigabit upload speeds as well as download speeds, while its biggest competitor in Seattle, Xfinity, only has upload speeds that reach 35 Mbps and can sometimes be as low as 10 Mbps. If you’re online gaming, streaming, making video calls, or uploading videos to YouTube; it’s clear which Seattle provider is the better choice.
That being said, not every household needs the same internet speed. A good baseline for truly “fast” internet is 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Some households with lower internet speed needs will be able to get by with 250 Mbps or less. Figure out how much internet speed you need before you decide how much speed to pay for!
Another reason to choose a fiber provider if possible is because data caps can restrict your internet speed and trigger extra charges when you exceed certain downloads. That’s not a problem with Quantum fiber or Astound Broadband Powered by Wave’s fiber service. However, if you decide on Xfinity, you will be subject to data caps unless you pay extra for xFi Complete which gives you unlimited data. Xfinity’s data allowances are usually more than enough for most users.
Internet Availability in Seattle, WA
Depending on where you live in Seattle, you may have access to different internet providers.
The first question to ask yourself is whether you can get fiber internet. In Seattle, that means Quantum Fiber, which has taken over most of the area that was once served by CenturyLink’s fiber network. Happily, that’s a pretty extensive area. There are only a few places that you’re likely to have a hard time signing up for a Quantum Fiber plan. Quantum’s coverage is limited in areas between Route 5 and the Duwamish Waterway, like Georgetown, Greater Duwamish, and Sodo. It’s also a little spotty in Downtown, Belltown, and Uptown.
But almost everywhere else Quantum’s availability is great. Down in Delridge and West Seattle, you should be able to sign up for Quantum. From Rainier Beach up to Columbia City and Mt. Barker, you should have no problem (as long as you’re on the east side of Route 5, as we mentioned earlier). Most of Capitol Hill is pretty well covered (particularly as you move east toward Miller Park and the Japanese Garden); the story is similar in Queen Anne and Magnolia (especially in the northern reaches of these neighborhoods).
And everything north of the University of Washington is Quantum territory, too: Ballard, Ravenna, Northgate, and so on.
Next, we need to talk about cable internet. Xfinity’s coverage is pretty straightforward: it covers 97.5% of the city, so you can get plans at just about any residential address in any neighborhood of Seattle. But Astound by Wave is a little trickier; it covers only about one-tenth of Seattle’s area. You’re most likely to find it south of the canal and Lake Union — from Queen Anne and Capitol Hill down to Georgetown and Rainier Valley.
Internet Provider Store Locations in Seattle, WA
Internet Providers in Nearby Cities
Frequently Asked Questions About Internet in Seattle, WA
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